The title is cheesy? What? I watched Family Feud too. Once I was allowed, that is, to turn on the television by myself. In the old days, High WASPs suspected TV was an acolyte of the devil. We were perhaps correct. But I digress.
Thank you all so much for taking the survey I put up on SurveyMonkey earlier this week. I appreciate your time, your consideration, your thoughts, very much.
Let me give you the executive summary. In bullet points. Executives like bullets.
- As of this morning, I have received 299 responses. I captured the screen shots below yesterday afternoon, when I had received 289 responses – the percentages have not changed with the additional 10 surveys.
- In context, Privilege currently has approximately 800 subscribers across RSS and Google Followers, with an additional approximate 400 visitors/day.
- These survey numbers put us at a 25% response rate. I was not expecting such robust (executives like the word robust, it reduces their anxiety) participation. Thank you. It was certainly worth the $20 I had to pay to collect more than 100 surveys. Understatement.
- You believe it’s OK to make money in general.
- But you don’t much like ads as you have experienced them to date.
- Sponsored posts, however, you would mind less, as long as I choose sponsors in good taste. (Well, I should certainly hope so, as my mother would say.)
- Let’s pretend we never said the word e-pamphlet.
- You were remarkably generous and encouraging about writing a book.
- Your topic preferences mirror post frequency, i.e. what I have posted most often has drawn the most readers.
- (It dawned on me that I should have expected this phenomenon. It’s the Internet. You can vote with what my daughter called, “your pingers” and click away if you like.)
- SurveyMonkey is a pretty good tool.
What did I take away? Executives also like to take things away. Heaven forbid you leave an idea sitting on a conference table somewhere, to languish, unmanifest.
- The annoyance of networks ads like Google, etc., for this audience, probably isn’t worth what they might contribute.
- In theory, if I can find sponsors who make goods I would recommend, sponsorship or no, we might be able to present this in a way that works. Remains to be seen, worth investigating.
- If I don’t give writing a book a try my great-uncle who went to Africa and wrote books on the Snake People should rise up from the dead and take away my High WASP Explorers’ Club card.
- This is a style blog, from the perspective of a High WASP. It will remain a style blog, focused on exactly what we’ve all been discussing.
- However, we will talk a little more about High WASP houses and their furnishings. I have a great Federalist mirror, from my grandmother, that I have to figure out how to photograph. To say nothing of my brother’s place, if he will let me.
- I will also write about all the topics you have been good enough to suggest or affirm, i.e., plus size High WASP fashion, class, money, regional differences amongst WASPs, High WASP icons, what do we know as WASPs, silly advice, etiquette, more book reviews, movies, hosting parties and events, weddings, days at Princeton, family stories and heirlooms, my childhood, coping with change, the history of social graces, leisure pursuits, places to shop, walk, eat, and linger in San Francisco and Santa Barbara, Artsy Cousins, corporate politics, work wear, fashion for the over-40, over-50, and under-30, (what happens in one’s 30’s, we wonder? Oh, yes, children…), indignities and harrumphs, sterling, damask, beauty, whatever strikes my fancy. Wax philosophical. Oh, and cheesecake.
As for India, well, yes. I see, it’s not your favorite. I apologize. On the other hand, for many reasons, it’s a story I have to tell. I ask your forbearance. Can we pretend this is a cocktail party and I’ve had too much Junipero? It has been known to happen. That come the end of the night I find my way to the piano, and sing songs loudly. I embarrass everyone. But, as High WASPs will, in the morning we carry on as though nothing had happened. Family knows when to look the other way. I will keep the India posts sporadic, and if I manage to redesign to include separate sections in the blog, I’ll put them in their very own spot.
You also asked if I would share the process of commercializing this blog, whatever the outcome. Yes, of course. As a first step, for any lovers of statistics or those wondering what SurveyMonkey actually showed me,
Taking my tongue out of my cheek, just for a moment, the encouragement about writing cheered me to no end. Yet I have no illusions. As you counseled, books are tough. Especially these days. The thing is, I don’t mind if nothing comes of the effort. At this stage of my life, the worst thing would be not to try. I might wish I had learned that earlier, but we do what we can. I also realized, during this survey process, that I have no interest in unnatural acts to make money on Privilege. If I were wanted to engage in unnatural acts designed to make money I would square my jaw, return to a large software company somewhere, and speak in product management tongues to groups of men in business casual. The blog is for you and me.
Right. Enough sentiment. A simple thank you will suffice. I just love Murano glass. (High WASPs are fond of changing the subject when emotion threatens.) Speaking of shopping sites in San Francisco, I saw a gorgeous pair of gold turtledoves here, on the Gump’s site. What do you think? Centerpiece for a small dining table? Wedding present?
Have a wonderful weekend.
23 Responses
"At this stage of my life, the worst thing would be not to try."
Well said, my dear. Well said. You can't succeed if you don't try.
I, for one, am going to follow your efforts to generate an income from your blog with great interest. I once said I'd NEVER put ads on my blog – and when it comes to those annoying Google AdSense and BlogHer banners/sidebar ads, I am adamant about that – but make some money with tasteful/relevant advertising? I'm rethinking that one. Oh, yes indeed.
As very often in my life, I don't agree with the majority: I love the India posts and hope they keep coming! They were the first ones I read from your blog and loved them. So, just know that you'll have at least me waiting anxiously for more of those.
Have a nice weekend.
I would say by the colored bar graph that your High Wasp style both for home and self is your strongest point. And we know by this time, to go with what is a strong point. I, for one, enjoy the parenting posts because they make me think about my own role as a mom.
StacyfrPgh
Marcela, yes, I will continue India. Can't help myself. And Stacy, I will subsume parenting posts into Saturday morning musings, not focus on them per se, but I can't help musing. Now and then. Motherhood is still the most compelling things I've done.
Very interesting this SurveyMonkey! Looking forward to whatever posts and future endeavors you have in store for yourself and for us!
Have a great weekend!
So thrilled to have stumbled here via the lovely Maureen of Island Roar and Kristen of Motherese. What an interesting – and open – post. I could not agree more about the importance of effort. The worst thing we can do in life is not try.
I am very interested in the question of privilege and look forward to poking around your bloggy home.
well done and good luck to whatever you decide
to do!
blessings,
lea
Love-love-love seeing the results Miss LPC, it is all just so fascinating! And you are spot on about the notion that the worst thing to do is not even try the book, you would always wonder "what if", IOHO.
Thank you for sharing with all of us, it is fun having a peek behind the curtain!
tp
I have another subject that I would love for you to address.
What to wear to a funeral.
Unfortunately, I had to attend one last week and while even the dark starched denim types looked great. It was a very small town funeral where mustbeDARK and mustbeSTARCHED denim is appropriate as long as you are also wearing a tasteful western blazer and your best freshly polished boots.
There was one woman that I knew from HS (a total attention junky)that was wearing a totally appropriate…for anything BUT a funeral…bright green coat.
I know some personalities must been seen, heard, whatever, but it was so out of place. And since it is enevitable that at some point in our lives we will have to attend some such event please give us some advice so we don't stick out like a sore thumb.
Except that India is my very favorite.
I love this recap :) And re: India: hey, we love you, and of course will enjoy whatever you want to share with us :)!
Um, and after skimming just up to SharpieGirl — you seem very wise, so if you might could share some wisdom in how to help people/what to see when they're grieving (covering all kinds of scenarios: a parent, a sibling, a significant other, a pet, a child, a baby) — well hmm, I suppose that's quite a lot to ask, especially as we just discussed this being a style blog. But in case you have some sort of "life lessons that nobody teaches you" installment at some point, perhaps file this away under there :)
I would not conclude from the graph that people don't like India, people like it a great deal they just happen to like other things more. And as you've noted if you write more on India you are likely to attract more readers that love the topic.
Something I should have included in the survey, I love your writing and of all the topics you write about the one that I think would translate best into a book is India (though I did not vote for it as a favorite) and other such reflections.
Hmm. Not sure about the doves. But I do have to say, I died a bit inside when Gumps stopped carrying my china pattern.
Funerals. Somber occasions. OK. The cessation of a china pattern is sad, but probably doesn't require special clothes:).
I like the India stories very much. Almost as much as I like Gumps!
Please, keep India. I think it was a wonderfull journey and it makes great story. I travelled to Nepal when I was 23 and I share many of your discoveries, but I just don't have the talent and time to write about it now. I will also love to read about China and your experiences there. Good luck.
Diana A
Very interesting culling of the poll results. I like India; I love the mother posts. But I am probably not the average reader of your blog. I will continue to read it whatever you post because I love the way you write. So get going on that book! And then come do a signing at Bunch Of Grapes in Tisbury, okay??
I know how to stuff the box on these surveys but refrained. It would have been India, India, India.
Doves are exquisite. On a sidetable or buffet? In your bedroom love nest? Would they not be a divine anniversary gift?
I love the India stories, keep 'em coming and please invite me to the book signing in Tisbury, I'll bring Junipero!
You all are wonderful to encourage me on India. I will keep going. Patsy, Maureen, I look forward to our Tisbury and Juniper date. And Duchesse, I plan to put the doves on my dining table, if the proportions are right. Time for a change from my Chinese bowl. They would make a fantastic anniversary present, you are right.
I was thinking about you the other day, about your trip to India that wasn't as popular as your other posts. What about doing that as a separate blog? Perhaps it just jarred the reader amidst the other posh stuff? I'm thinking about re-cycling some of my holidays, but my blog is all over the place anyhow. Just an idea.
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